These terms apply to all self-drive vehicle hires from Singh’s Van Hire. By signing the Rental Agreement, the hirer and any additional driver agree to these Terms & Conditions.

1. Vehicles

Singh’s Van Hire provides self-drive commercial vehicles including:

* Long Wheelbase (LWB) vans
* Luton box vans, including vehicles fitted with tail lifts

The exact vehicle supplied may differ in make, model, age or specification from photographs shown online. An equivalent vehicle may be substituted where necessary.

2. Driver eligibility

All drivers must meet our insurer’s eligibility requirements.

For commercial vehicles, based on the current insurance qualification supplied to us:

Drivers aged 21–24
Must have held a full UK driving licence for at least 2 years. An additional £400 insurance excess applies.

Drivers aged 25–69
Must have held a full UK driving licence for at least 1 year.

Drivers aged 70–72
May be accepted but must be referred to our insurer for approval before hire.

Drivers outside the standard criteria are not insured unless prior approval has been obtained from our insurer.

Non-UK licence holders are subject to prior approval and additional conditions and/or excesses may apply.

3. Driving convictions

Drivers with a major motoring conviction within the previous 5 years, or a pending prosecution for a major motoring offence, will not normally be accepted.

Minor motoring convictions may be accepted subject to the insurer’s rules.

Drivers aged 21–22 must normally be free from endorsements.

Drivers aged 23–24 must normally have no more than one minor conviction within the previous 5 years.

Drivers aged 25–69 hiring commercial vehicles may normally have minor convictions totalling up to 6 points within the previous 5 years.

Minor convictions totalling 7–9 points within the previous 5 years may be acceptable subject to an additional £400 insurance excess and insurer requirements.

All convictions, disqualifications and pending prosecutions must be declared before hire.

4. Identification & licence checks

Before a vehicle is released, the hirer must provide:

A valid driving licence, a DVLA check code, two acceptable forms of identification, and recent proof of home address.

We may refuse a hire where we cannot satisfactorily verify the driver’s identity, address, licence or eligibility.

False or misleading information may invalidate the hire and/or insurance cover.

5. Security deposit

A £500 security deposit is required unless otherwise agreed in writing.

The deposit may be used towards unpaid rental charges, additional mileage, fuel, cleaning, damage, insurance excesses, parking charges, tolls, penalties, late-return charges or other amounts properly due under the Rental Agreement.

Any remaining balance will be returned following completion of our post-hire checks.

6. Insurance

Insurance is provided subject to the driver’s eligibility and the terms of our insurance policy.

The standard insurance excess applicable to the hire will be clearly stated on the Rental Agreement.

Where our insurer requires an increased or additional excess because of the driver’s age, licence, convictions or other circumstances, that increased excess will also be stated before the hire begins.

The hirer remains responsible for charges or losses that are excluded from insurance cover or arise from a breach of these Terms.

7. Permitted use

Vehicles may be used for normal private, trade and business purposes permitted by our insurance.

Unless we give written permission, vehicles must not be used for:

Courier or parcel-delivery work; food delivery; carriage of passengers for hire or reward; racing, competitions, rallies or speed trials; towing; driving tuition; illegal activities; carrying dangerous or prohibited goods; overloading; or any purpose not permitted by our insurer.

Only drivers named and approved on the Rental Agreement may drive the vehicle.

8. Mileage

Unless a different allowance is shown on the Rental Agreement:

Daily hire: 150 miles
Weekend hire: 400 miles
Weekly hire: 750 miles

Additional mileage will be charged at 30p per mile.

Mileage is recorded at collection and return.

9. Fuel

Vehicles are supplied on a full-to-full fuel basis unless stated otherwise.

The vehicle must be returned with the same fuel level.

Where additional fuel is required, the hirer will be charged for the replacement fuel plus a £25 refuelling/administration charge.

10. Luton vans & tail lifts

Where a vehicle is fitted with a tail lift, the hirer is responsible for operating it correctly and safely.

The manufacturer’s maximum load must never be exceeded.

The hirer is responsible for damage caused by misuse, overloading, incorrect operation or failure to secure goods correctly.

The vehicle’s maximum permitted gross weight and individual axle limits must never be exceeded.

11. Vehicle condition

The vehicle’s condition and mileage will be recorded before the hire begins.

The hirer should inspect the vehicle and report any discrepancy before leaving our premises.

The vehicle must be returned in substantially the same condition, allowing for reasonable wear and tear.

Damage occurring during the rental must be reported immediately.

12. Accidents, theft & damage

Any accident, theft, attempted theft, vandalism or damage must be reported to Singh’s Van Hire immediately.

The driver must not admit liability or agree to settle any claim.

The hirer must obtain, where reasonably possible, the other party’s name, address, telephone number, registration number and insurance details, together with photographs and witness details.

The hirer must cooperate fully with Singh’s Van Hire and our insurer and complete any required accident or claim documentation.

13. Breakdown

The hirer must contact Singh’s Van Hire or the nominated breakdown provider immediately in the event of a breakdown.

The hirer must not arrange repairs or authorise expenditure without our permission except where urgently necessary to protect life or property.

14. Late returns

Vehicles must be returned at the agreed date and time.

Late returns may be charged at £25 per hour.

A delay of 4 hours or more may result in an additional full day’s rental charge.

Keeping a vehicle beyond the agreed rental period without permission may also affect insurance cover and may result in further action being taken to recover the vehicle.

15. Parking charges, tolls & penalties

The hirer is responsible for parking charges, congestion charges, tolls, traffic penalties and similar charges incurred during the rental.

Where Singh’s Van Hire has to process or transfer liability for such a charge, a £30 administration fee per notice may be charged in addition to the amount due, where legally permitted.

16. Smoking, vaping & cleaning

Smoking and vaping are prohibited in all vehicles.

Vehicles must be returned in a reasonably clean condition.

Where specialist cleaning or deodorising is reasonably required because of the hirer’s use of the vehicle, the reasonable cost may be charged to the hirer.

17. Keys & security

The hirer is responsible for keeping the vehicle and keys secure.

Vehicles must be locked whenever unattended and any fitted security equipment must be used.

Lost or damaged keys will be charged at the reasonable replacement/programming cost plus a £50 administration charge.

The hirer must immediately notify us if a key is lost or stolen.

18. Trackers

Our vehicles may be fitted with GPS tracking and vehicle-security technology.

Tracking information may be used for vehicle security, theft prevention and recovery, mileage verification, fleet management and investigating suspected misuse, subject to applicable data-protection law and our Privacy Notice.

19. Prohibited or referred hirers

A hire may be refused or referred to our insurer where the driver does not meet the insurer’s qualification criteria.

Based on our current insurer guidance, this may include certain accident histories, previous insurance cancellations or refusals, certain occupations and other higher-risk circumstances.

The hirer must answer all eligibility questions accurately before the vehicle is released.

20. Payment

Rental charges and the required security deposit must be paid before the vehicle is released unless an approved business credit arrangement has been agreed.

Where cash is accepted, a valid debit or credit card may still be required to guarantee the security deposit or insurance excess in accordance with insurer requirements.

21. Cancellation

Cancellation terms and any non-refundable amounts will be disclosed when the booking is made.

Where Singh’s Van Hire cannot provide the booked vehicle, we may offer a suitable alternative or refund the rental payment made for the unavailable hire.

22. Breach of agreement

We may terminate the rental and recover the vehicle where the hirer materially breaches these Terms, provides false information, permits an unauthorised driver to use the vehicle, uses the vehicle illegally or in a manner that places the vehicle or others at significant risk.

The hirer remains responsible for lawful charges and losses arising from their breach, subject to applicable law.

23. Liability

Nothing in these Terms excludes or restricts liability where doing so would be unlawful, including liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence.

Nothing in these Terms affects the hirer’s statutory consumer rights.

24. Governing law

These Terms and the Rental Agreement are governed by the laws of England and Wales.